The Scene At SEMA

It seems like I have this complaint every year when I get back from the SEMA Show: This annual convention, with its acres of new performance parts and accessories, doesn’t have much to offer for those who work in the restoration side of the business/hobby. This year the pickings seemed even slimmer. I walked the show floor for half a day before spotting a single restored muscle car. There was none in the Ford display, none in the Chevrolet display, and only one in the Mopar display. In a way I felt like a kid in a candy store--but a kid who’s allergic to chocolate.

2/11One of the coolest cars I saw at SEMA was one of the smallest: this HO-scale Jungle Jim Camaro Funny Car slot car in the Auto World booth. It is part of a Legends of the Quarter Mile release that also includes the Blue Max Mustang FC, Hawaiian Charger FC, and the L.A. Hooker Mustang FC. Also available is a Legends of the Quarter Mile drag race track set, with 13 feet of side-by-side action!

Why is this? Well, for starters, the SEMA Show is all about what’s hot and new in performance and appearance modifications, and there’s not all that much that’s “hot and new” about the restoration business. Plus, let’s face it: At a show like this, a restored or original ’60s car, no matter how perfect or rare, just doesn’t command the kind of attention that the dropped, chopped, and blinged restomods do. And getting the buyers’ attention, to get them in the booth and sign their business, is really what the SEMA Show is all about. That’s why Tim Allen’s restomod Camaro was parked front-and-center in the Classic Industries/OER booth, while the gorgeous and historic Dick Harrell Super Camaro that graced our Mar. ’13 cover (“Pedigree”) was wedged between so many display cases that I couldn’t get a decent photo.

But did I give up and slink off to the casino? Heck no. I dug in my heels and spent three days wandering the Las Vegas Convention Center looking for cars, parts, and other stuff that would interest MCR readers.

The Tim Allen '68 Camaro

3/11

Comedian Tim Allen worked with hot rod and custom car builder Bodie Stroud to create a ’68 COPO Camaro that Allen considers a “state-of-the-art interpretation of what hot rod legends such as Smokey Yunick would have done with today’s technology.” Many of the slippery body mods are straight out of Smokey’s Trans-Am Camaro playbook, while underhood is today’s 427: a 505hp LS7. Classic Industries provided a number of parts for the build, including glass, door handles and latches, head- and parking lamps, bumpers, and even the caps for the big Rally wheels.

4/11

Scott Drake Tribute Mustang

5/11

The Mustang in the Scott Drake booth was more than just a tribute to the pony car’s 50th birthday. The beautifully restored convertible will attend the anniversary celebrations in 2014, and then be sold at auction in 2015, with proceeds going to the National Down Syndrome Society. The car, in unrestored form, was donated by Drake, along with $10,000 in parts; restoration was handled by the Mustangs of East Texas club. The cause is close to Scott’s heart: his son Troy, who works in the family business, has Down Syndrome.

6/11

The Shaker is Back!

7/11

Along with the announcement that it is reviving the Scat Pack name for upgrade packages for select Challengers, Chargers, and Darts, Mopar also unveiled a new Shaker hood option for ’14 Challenger R/T models (seen here) and the Mopar 14 Challenger. The cold-air intake carries a warranty, is emissions-legal, and can be retrofitted to earlier Hemi-powered Challengers. The Mopar 14 will be a limited edition (just 100 made) Challenger, available in white or black, with the Shaker-topped Hemi, rear spoiler, suspension mods, custom upholstery, and a pistol-grip shifter.

8/11

Coker Tire Bias-Look Radial

9/11

That’s the man himself, Corky Coker, introducing his latest tire at a SEMA press conference. It’s a radial and drives like one, but with the tall profile of a bias-ply tire, “pie crust” shaped shoulders, and a vintage-looking tread pattern. It will be initially available in nine sizes, fitting 13-, 14-, and 15-inch wheels. True, the wide whites may not be a good match for your muscle car, but Corky hinted that other sidewall designs could become available soon. Redlines, Corky, redlines.

Original Parts Group Buick

10/11

We can always count on our buds at OPGI to bring some immaculate resto muscle to SEMA, and this year they didn’t disappoint with this super-sano ’68 Buick GS 350. Credit for the meticulous resto goes to JH Restorations in Riverside, California, using parts provided by OPGI.

Legendary Rallye Seats

11/11

At last year’s SEMA Show Legendary Auto Interiors introduced its new Rallye seats, which are covered in OE-correct upholstery but offer more bolstering--and therefore more support--for long-haul muscle cars. (Compare the flat OE seat on the left to the cushy-looking Rallye on the right.) This year the company announced it is extending the Rallye seat applications to fit ’66-’69 Mopar A- and B-Bodies. Legendary has also launched a new line of GM F-Body door panels, with the top trim piece now done in metal, which is far more durable than the OE plastic versions.